30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (2024)

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30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (1)

By Taryn Pire

Published Apr 20, 2021

You went overboard for your first barbecue of the year and bought more steak than you and your guests could possibly eat. Whether you grilled it all already or still have a few raw cuts, there are plenty of ways to turn your leftovers into something delicious. Here, 30 leftover steak recipes that do your favorite summer main justice, from flank steak tacos to beef stroganoff.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 15-minute Skillet Pepper Steak

Weeknight dinners don’t get any easier—or faster. Even better, this takeout favorite clocks in at fewer than 230 calories per serving. Serve with white rice.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Flank Steak Tacos With Cucumber Salsa

Who knew a meal this filling could also be so refreshing? Chalk that up to the cucumber-scallion salsa that’s made with lime juice, jalapeño and fresh cilantro. Don’t forget the chips and guac.

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Dana Carpender/The Keto for One Cookbook

3. Keto Steak And Blue Cheese Salad For One

You’re only six basic ingredients away from this satiating solo meal. Don’t sweat it if you have additional mouths to feed: The recipe is a cinch to double (or quadruple).

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Laura Wing-Kamoosi

4. Mini Steak Sliders

Whether you’re at a softball picnic or a Super Bowl party, sliders are an easy win. These sammies, piled high with thin-sliced leftover steak, white cheddar cheese and some essential condiments, come together in about 15 minutes.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Steak Stir-fry

Fresh produce + flank steak + pantry staples = the easiest dinner of all time. The recipe calls for bell peppers, onion and carrots, but feel free to add whatever veggies you have, like broccoli or bok choy.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Easy 30-minute Beef Stroganoff

Buttery noodles, tender mushrooms, melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin—this dish is comfort food at its finest. What really takes it over the top is a generous dose of sour cream and lots of fresh herbs.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Thai Beef Bowls With Rice Noodles

If your local Thai takeout spot is your happy place, you need this 30-minute dish in your rotation. Think chewy rice vermicelli, zingy stir-fried beef in a spicy marinade and all the fresh snap peas, lettuce and herbs.

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8. Grilled Carne Asada Tacos With Boursin Cheese

The meat’s flavor comes from the marinade, so this is a great recipe for using up leftover raw steak. The apple cider vinegar in it will help tenderize the meat before its cooked to boot.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Skillet Steak With Asparagus And Potatoes

If you have a whole sirloin or strip steak on your hands (or in your freezer) that you’re hoping to devour before it goes bad, look no further than this one-pan masterpiece. Don’t even get us started on the lemon-herb sauce.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Steak Skewers With Chimichurri Sauce

Don’t pack the grill away just yet—the barbecue’s guest of honor is about to be reborn. Skewer cubed beef tenderloin alongside hunks of red onion and the plumpest cherry tomatoes you can find, then char them to perfection.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

11. Beef Flatbread With Herb Sauce

Sure, it may look like a communal appetizer. But we’ve been known to inhale it single-handedly for dinner from time to time. The recipe calls for ground beef, but we’re betting it tastes just as heavenly topped with thin-sliced or cubed steak.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Classic Stuffed Peppers

Speaking of substituting steak for ground beef, these savory, cheesy pockets of goodness are due for an upgrade. Feel free to swap marinara sauce for pesto or chimichurri.

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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Skillet Fajitas

The recipe calls for chicken cutlets, but feel free to give this classic a beefy makeover. Just sear the steak on both sides before letting it cook to completion in the oven with the veggies.

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14. Steak Fried Rice

Aka the easiest way to use up leftover protein and veggies. Clean out your crisper drawer or freezer by tossing in peas, carrots, baby corn, bell peppers, scallions and whatever else you have on hand.

15. Steak Sandwich With Caramelized Onions And Brie

Behold, the fanciest lunch of all time. The recipe calls for sweet, sticky fig jam, but we just might swap in our easy homemade onion jam instead.

16. 4-ingredient Creamy Vodka Steak Pasta

Brace yourself for oodles of zoodles topped with buttery steak and your go-to jarred vodka sauce. (If you want to go the extra mile and whip up your own sauce, our recipe is pretty damn flawless.)

17. Steak Burrito Bowls

This beauty is low-carb and keto-, Whole30- and Paleo-friendly, thanks to cilantro cauliflower rice. Crown it with all the fixings, like sliced avocado, grilled corn, fresh pico de gallo or even mango salsa.

18. Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteak

Come on, it’s plain ingenious. Think thin-sliced sirloin, onion, bell peppers and mushrooms in a savory marinade, enrobed in from-scratch provolone cheese sauce. Serve it over rice or pasta or keep it old school by piling the mix onto hoagie rolls.

19. Grilled Steakhouse Pizza

Our favorite barbecue magic trick come summer? Grilled pizza. The grates are just what the crust needs to turn bubbly, crisp and golden brown. Then, it’s prime for topping with grilled Portobello mushrooms, steak, arugula and crumbled gorgonzola.

20. Greek Steak Salad French Bread With Soft Boiled Eggs And Feta

It’s basically the most elegant open-faced sandwich on earth. Serve it to your guests by the slice or cut the bread underneath for easy lifting, then let them choose their own toppings, charcuterie style.

21. Steak Nachos

You say party starter, we say Taco Tuesday dinner. This dish has plenty of protein from the beans and steak to keep you full, plus all the drool-worthy fixings.

22. Steak Fajita Stuffed Baked Potatoes With Avocado Chipotle Crema

Forget the sour cream and bacon bits. Steak, veggies and cheese take these cuties straight into entrée territory. Oh, and you’ll want to straight-up bathe in the Greek yogurt crema.

23. Beef Satay

The marinade is next-level flavorful, consisting of dry-roasted peanuts, brown sugar, lemongrass, curry powder, ginger, soy sauce and lime. But we’re *extra* excited about the spicy peanut dipping sauce.

24. Spicy Sriracha Steak And Eggs

When this brunch beauty hits the table, it’s a good morning indeed. The key is a Thai-inspired marinade, made with fish sauce, chile garlic sauce, lime, ginger and honey. Let the steak soak it up while you make coffee.

25. Parmesan Pecorino Steak Flatbread

Sharp, savory and oh so simple. Picture skillet-seared flank steak, baby arugula and red onion atop a layer of cheesy lemon-garlic sauce. Better yet, since it starts with store-bought pizza dough, it’ll only take you 35 minutes from start to finish.

26. Sweet Potato Fry Steak Salad With Blue Cheese Butter

Any salad starring sweet potato fries is our kind of salad. Blue cheese tends to be pretty divisive, so if you’re not down with its funky flavor, swap it for grated Parmesan or garlic instead.

27. Kabab Chenjeh (grilled Saffron Beef Kebab)

This authentic recipe hails from Darya, a restaurant in West L.A.’s Little Persia. It’s as simple as blending the marinade, letting the beef sit as long as your patience can stand and grilling it to perfection. Serve it over long-grain rice or wrap it in warm lavosh.

28. Greek Steak And Pesto Salad Gyros

Basil-pine nut pesto. Fresh olive tapenade. Homemade pita. Uber flavorful flank steak. Any questions?

29. Mongolian Beef

All you need to pull this ridiculously simple dinner off is 15 minutes and a handful of pantry staples. Serve the meat over white rice and top it generously with toasted sesame seeds for a pretty finishing touch.

30. Steak And Cheese Quesadillas

Leftovers have never looked so darn drool worthy. In addition to the usual suspects like guac and sour cream, serve them with steak sauce for an extra punch of bold flavor.

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Taryn Pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (2024)

FAQs

How to make leftover steak more tender? ›

Cover the dish with plastic wrap and microwave it on medium power for 30-second periods (max power will dry out your steak in no time), turning the steak in between. You should only need to do this a few times for the perfect, deliciously tender result.

What can I make with tough steak? ›

Only do this if your steak is nearly unsalvageable but too wasteful to throw away. Cut it into 1-inch pieces, toss into the food processor with a drizzle of olive oil and turn it into a semi-pureed beef filling. You can use it in pies, add it to pasta sauces, or turn it into savory dumplings.

How long should leftover steak be in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

How to eat leftover steak? ›

What Can I Make with Leftover Steak?
  1. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich.
  2. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.
  3. Steak and Mushroom Omelette.
  4. Vegetable Beef Soup.
  5. Steak and Egg Breakfast Hash.
  6. Chili Lime Steak Tacos.
  7. Beef and Spinach Rigatoni.
  8. BBQ Ranch Steak Flatbread.
Jul 20, 2023

How do you make over cooked steak tender? ›

You may need some sweetness and acidity to bring up the tough meat. Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

How do you reheat steak so it's not tough? ›

Place the steak in the oven and let it reheat slowly, until the steak reaches about 100°F — the time will vary depending on how thick the steak is, but plan on this taking about 20 to 30 minutes.

What do restaurants use to tenderize steak? ›

When we are dealing with potentially tough cuts of beef, we will oftentimes utilize marinades with higher levels of acids like lemon juice, vinegar, or buttermilk. These marinades will help break down the muscle fibers to make them easier to cook and tenderize.

What liquids tenderize steak? ›

Marinate with Acid

Not only does a tenderizing steak marinade imbue aromatic flavour, but the acidic ingredients in it also denature connective proteins in the meat. Regular or apple cider vinegar, wine or beer, lemon or lime juice, buttermilk or yogurt contain tenderizing acids.

Can you eat 5 day old steak? ›

Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days. After cooking, meat, poultry and seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.

Can you freeze already cooked steak? ›

Make sure to put your leftovers away as soon as possible. Cooked steak can last up to six months in the freezer, but it will dry out over time. Freezing leftovers makes them last longer because it halts bacterial growth, but that growth starts back up again as soon as you thaw the food out.

Had steak in the fridge for 7 days? ›

How long is raw steak good in the fridge? Store raw steak in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. However, pay attention to sell-by dates and the expiration date. Steak may remain fresh for a few days past their sell-by dates, but you should freeze steak before its expiration date if you won't use it by that date.

How do you make leftover steak juicy? ›

Tips for reheating steak so it stays juicy and tender
  1. Don't reheat straight from the fridge. Heating cold meat takes longer and makes it easier to overcook. ...
  2. Go low and slow. If you rush reheating your steak, you'll end up with dry, rubbery meat. ...
  3. Add a sear.
Mar 21, 2022

How do you make leftover steak taste fresh? ›

The best way to reheat steak is to arrange it on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet and warm in a 250°F oven until it reaches 110°F.

How do you reuse over cooked steak? ›

Feature shredded meat as the main ingredient inside a baked casserole, cheesy quiche, or shepherd's pie. Otherwise, add it to loaded chimichanga, stuffed peppers, or savory crêpes. You can even use the steak to make dumplings.

Is there a way to make tough steak tender? ›

  1. How to Tenderize a Tough Cut of Meat. Pound it out. Use salt. Use an acidic marinade. Use kiwi, papaya, or pineapple. Score it. Slow cook it.
  2. Our Favorite Recipes for Slow Cooked Meat.
Jan 17, 2024

How do you make steak less chewy after cooking? ›

Rest Your Steak: After cooking, let your steak rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, ensuring a juicy and tender bite. Reconsider Your Cut: If you consistently find one cut to be too chewy, try switching to a more tender cut next time.

Why is my steak tough after cooking? ›

One of the most crucial aspects of cooking a steak to perfection is achieving the ideal level of doneness. Unfortunately, many cooks fall victim to the common mistakes of overcooking or undercooking their steak. Overcooking can result in a dry, tough steak, robbing it of its desired juiciness and tenderness.

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

The Aging. Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

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